State Rejails Suspect In Hartford Beating

September 29, 1994|By MAXINE BERNSTEIN; Courant Staff Writer

Shawn Pressey, who was released from prison in June and placed under community supervision, was taken back into custody this week after he became a suspect in the beating of two off-duty guards in Hartford.

Pressey, 25, of Hartford, has not been arrested in connection with last Thursday's attack on two correction officers outside a Hartford barbershop. But Hartford police said they believe Pressey was involved.

``He was obviously there. He was involved in the incident,'' said Lt. Robert J. Caganiello, commander of the police department's crimes against persons division. ``We're still investigating.''

The state Department of Correction took Pressey back into custody Wednesday on a technical violation of a community-release program.

He had been arrested in September 1993 and later convicted of carrying a weapon without a permit. He was sentenced to two years in prison, but was released early, on June 19, under a special community-release program. He was required to report periodically to a community supervisor.

Pressey did report to a supervisor as required, said William Flower, correction department spokesman. ``We took him back because he's a suspect,'' Flower said.

The correction department can pull someone from the community- release program if the person is involved with activity that is ``not compatible with the welfare of society,'' or if the person has violated the law, Flower said.

The beating of the off-duty guards took place about 2:30 p.m. Sept. 22. Carlos Rodriguez, 27, an officer at the Hartford Correctional Center, told police that a former inmate whom he had disciplined recognized him as he was coming out of a Hartford barbershop and summoned fellow gang members to jump and beat him. Rodriguez identified Pressey as the former inmate, police and correction officials said.

Eugene Miller, 28, who works at the Cheshire Correctional Center, was with Rodriguez and went to his aid. The crowd turned on Miller with sticks, pipes and bricks. Miller was hospitalized with a head injury and was released this week. Rodriguez was released from the hospital the night of the beating, after treatment for bruises and cuts.

Correction department records show one disciplinary report filed against Pressey in January, for disobeying an order, Flower said. Flower said he did not have any further information.